Samsung and Tshimologong Precinct announce the graduation of the first cohort of the App Factory Internship Programme

Collaborative partnerships remain key to addressing the increasing need for quality software development skills in the country. Fortunately, Samsung South Africa, through its partnership with Wits University’s Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct created the App Factory, an internship programme aimed at assisting interns to work on real-world projects under the guidance of a senior developer over the course of nine months. This intern-centred approach enables them to grow their competence and hone their skills. These skills are required by industry even when entering the job market as software developers. The practical learning serves as a foundation to allow the graduates to grow and be part of shaping the 4^th Industrial Revolution.

This partnership is aligned with Samsung’s R280-million Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP), which includes the mission to build software development skills for unemployed youth. Tshimologong Precinct’s tech incubation not only grows the tech start-ups of tomorrow but also provides quality software development skills for young people in South African.

The graduates of the App Factory Internship Programme are eager to find decent jobs within the industry. With the right skills and the right opportunities, such skilled interns can be part of driving local and global growth while achieving personal successes.

“Tshimologong is committed to growing tech skills in South Africa through these development programmes. It can only be successful when partners like Samsung join forces for the common good”, says Lesley Donna Williams, CEO of Tshimologong.

Samsung and Tshimologong celebrated the graduates of the internship programme through an event, held on Thursday, 26 November 2020 at the Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. The event was attended by representatives from Samsung, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, Tshimologong project managers as well as Wits University representatives.

“I am excited to graduate and look forward to my future as a software developer. Ever since I was young, I was always fascinated by computers, general applications and their function. I knew I would end up in the tech space and would like to thank Samsung for their commitment to skills development”, shares one of the graduates, Lindiwe Mncwabe.

Frans Mahlangu, another one of the App Factory internship graduates, added that he learnt a great deal from the programme. “This program had a positive impact on my life. If I had not been part of this internship, I would not have learnt the problem-solving skills that I now have, and am looking forward to being employed so that I may use my newly acquired skills”.

Samsung is committed to developing the community, identifying and prioritising young people with interventions that focus on their distinctive needs and ambitions in software development. This is reflected in initiatives such as the App Factory.

“Young people are most affected by our world’s greatest social, economic and environmental challenges. Samsung aims to empower this generation of problem solvers by equipping them with future-proof skills and giving them practical understanding of the technologies that will shape their future and enrich sustainable growth of the world. As part of our global mission of Enabling People we believe they can undoubtedly play a vital role in building communities and creating a positive and prosperous future for all. We’re excited at the prospect of using technology and our partnership with Tshimologong to bring this vision to life, “said Hlubi Shivanda, Director: Business Innovation Group and Corporate Affairs at Samsung South Africa.

Given the current state of the world, the persistent challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Samsung’s and Tshimologong’s second cohort is both timely and needed. Tshimologong Precinct is now looking ahead to next year and is seeking graduates who can demonstrate their ability to code in C#, Java and C++ and are familiar with object-oriented principles. Successful candidates will be paid a stipend for the duration of the internship.